Police have scheduled questioning of the Makkasan and Khlong Tan station masters regarding the conduct of the train driver and gate staff at the time of the incident. Traffic was managed at four points, resulting in 49 arrests and fines issued to five individuals, each fined 2,500 baht for violations during the incident management.
The tragic case involved freight train number 2126 colliding with an orange air-conditioned bus (route 206), vehicle number 3-44197, operating between Mega Bangna and Kasetsart University, license plate 12-5641 Bangkok. The collision caused a fire and resulted in eight passenger deaths, 30 injuries, and damage to several vehicles. The accident occurred near the Makkasan Airport Rail Link station on Asoke-Din Daeng Road, Makkasan subdistrict, Ratchathewi district, at 15:42 on 16 May, amid widespread grief.
Subsequently, Mr. Sayomporn, 46, the train driver; Mr. Uthen, 57, a train operation staff member responsible for gate control and flag signaling; and Mr. Lapit, 56, the bus driver, were charged and face prosecution related to the incident.
Currently, four injured individuals remain in intensive care units. Families of missing persons have confirmed the identities of six victims through DNA testing, with all six bodies released for religious rites. Two bodies remain unidentified. Amid the sorrow, plans are underway to increase compensation. Officials conducted a real-life train simulation of the event, as previously reported.
At 07:00 on 21 May 2024, Pol. Maj. Gen. Worawut Phisitbanrakorn, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, along with senior officers including Pol. Col. Kamphon Rattanaprateep, Pol. Col. Sakya Saengwan, Pol. Col. Somsak Iam-im, Pol. Col. Uramphon Khundechsamrit, and police chiefs from Makkasan Police Station and investigative teams, convened to review case no. 320/2567 on the evening of 20 May. The meeting resulted in the following directives.
Actions taken on 20 May 2024 are detailed as follows.
1. The investigative team is examining and identifying individuals potentially responsible for traffic violations under the Traffic Act in connection with the accident. This process is ongoing.
2. The investigative team has interviewed injured individuals currently hospitalized as well as those discharged. There are a total of 30 injured parties involved.
3. On 21 May 2024, questioning is scheduled for the Makkasan and Khlong Tan station masters concerning the performance of the train driver and gate staff during the incident.
4. The investigation unit is reviewing CCTV footage from the time of the accident, covering vehicles and motorcycles, to assist in identifying any violations of the Traffic Act. So far, footage of three cars has been reviewed with data collected. Motorcycle footage is being compared with police reports from motorcycle riders who filed complaints.
5. The investigative team is also summoning witnesses and bystanders present at the time of the accident. Two motorcycle taxi drivers have been brought in for questioning to assist the investigation.
6. On 20 May, a train was boarded at 14:00 for a simulation exercise. Investigators collected data on the procedures of the train driver and engine crew during operations, observing signal commands such as green, red, and flashing lights, and the flag signals given by gate staff positioned at railway crossing booths along the route.
7. Metropolitan Police Division 1 reports on enforcement actions following leadership directives to manage, arrest, fine, and control traffic at railway crossings. The operational results are as follows.
At the railway crossing where Kamphaeng Phet 7 Road intersects Asoke-Din Daeng Road, accordion-style traffic barriers were installed to prevent vehicles from illegally waiting to turn right from Asoke-Din Daeng into Kamphaeng Phet 7. This measure stopped vehicles coming from Rama 9 intersection from violating right-turn rules onto Kamphaeng Phet 7, reducing congestion at the crossing. Barriers were also used to reduce Kamphaeng Phet 7’s lanes from four to two, directing traffic to turn left toward Asoke-Phet intersection to avoid conflicting with traffic coming straight from Rama 9. This reduced slowdown near the railway crossing starting at 10:00, facilitating smoother flow for vehicles exiting Kamphaeng Phet 7 to intersect with traffic heading toward Asoke-Phet.
Traffic volume on Kamphaeng Phet 7 Road after 09:00 is light, so this measure has little negative impact. The method will be trialed until the start of the school term for schools inside Asoke alley, after which data will be collected to analyze traffic volumes on each side.
Regarding traffic management, arrests, and fines on 20 May 2024: traffic was controlled at four locations; 49 individuals were arrested; and five were fined 2,500 baht each. The remaining 44 will pay fines in accordance with the law in due course.